Chapter 30: Heroic and Valiant

Under the faint night, the distant mountain silhouettes were layered.

Qin Ming had already set out. The trees on both sides of the road were dense. He stepped on the snow and moved forward quickly.

Silver Vine Town was in sight. A soft light flowed under the thin mist. The outlines of the various buildings in the town were visible from a great distance.

The town was very lively. There were various shops on both sides of the street, the shelves full of a dazzling array of goods. People came and went, and the sound of hawking rose and fell.

Especially recently, many people had come from Crimson Cloud City, from nobles to adventurers, to New Lifers of unknown identity. They had all settled in the various towns, and the town’s popularity was even greater.

Qin Ming asked around a little and found the old noble’s mansion. It stood in the eastern district of Silver Vine Town. The vermilion gate was very grand, inlaid with a large number of copper nails. On both sides of the entrance was a pair of auspicious beasts to protect the home and ensure peace.

“Qin Ming.” Many young people had come from the various villages today. Someone was calling his name.

Qin Ming immediately smiled and responded, walking with several newly arrived New Lifers towards the old noble’s residence. Someone was already waiting at the main gate and came forward to lead the way for them.

The mansion was very large, with more than one courtyard, arranged in a scattered yet orderly manner. There were rockeries, strange stones, and pavilions as embellishments. At present, only a small number of evergreen plants remained in the flowerbeds.

In this winter of food shortage, the old noble’s life was not affected. It could be seen that he was quite wealthy and also knew how to enjoy life.

The main hall of the mansion was spacious and bright. Although the layout could not be said to be very luxurious, it was far superior to that of an ordinary large household. The huge pillars were carved with exquisite patterns, the furniture was all made of high-grade mahogany, and the walls were hung with very artistic calligraphy and paintings.

The old butler was meticulous. He received wave after wave of young people here, the smile on his face never disappearing. That expression seemed to be frozen; he always maintained his politeness and propriety.

“Qin Ming.”

“Er… Zhou Wubing.” Qin Ming saw that it was Er Bingzi. He had just opened his mouth and then changed his words. After the other’s New Life, his changes were great. He was half a head taller than an ordinary person and was already a heroic and spirited youth. Moreover, there were many people here, so it was no longer appropriate to address him as before.

“I’m going to Crimson Cloud City in a while. Do you have any plans? Are you going to go out?” Zhou Wubing’s once withered yellow hair had become black and shiny, and now there was a brilliant light in his eyes.

“I also yearn for the bright city in the distance. We’ll see when the time comes,” Qin Ming said.

There were many young people in the living room. At first, they were all rather reserved. Compared to the green brick and gray tile houses they lived in, this place had carved beams and painted rafters, magnificent and splendid. The porcelain, calligraphy, and paintings on display were all antiques that looked very valuable. They were not very used to this environment.

However, as time passed, they gradually relaxed, eating the fruits and pastries that the butler had someone bring.

Qin Ming was more open. To be able to eat fresh red berries in this snowy winter, he naturally would not be polite. He had come with the intention of getting free food and drink in the first place.

“I’m not competing with you today. That relative of mine said he wants to take me…” Er Bingzi lowered his voice, but suddenly stopped.

This was because he saw a silver-haired old man and a woman in a black fur cloak pass through the courtyard and walk towards a smaller living room.

“That’s the noble lady of the Xie family. Although I haven’t seen her true face, her figure seems to be exceptionally outstanding. Hmm, why is she raising a crow?” Zhou Wubing spoke, his words much more numerous than before.

“She doesn’t seem to be worried about getting married either,” Qin Ming muttered to himself in a very low voice. Yesterday, when the high-level figures of Crimson Cloud City were negotiating with the anomalies from the great mountains, he had seen this woman from afar. The other was also in the vicinity of that area.

Obviously, even if he whispered, the woman in black had heard him. She turned her head and glared at him.

The brim of the fur cloak’s hood was pressed very low, and there were black strands of hair blocking one side of her fair white cheek. Qin Ming only saw a part of her melon-seed-shaped face. Her red lips seemed to be very bright.

“Hehehe…” The crow on her shoulder was actually laughing, its voice no different from a human’s.

Qin Ming felt it was strange. However, ever since he had entered the mansion, he had displayed “Harmonizing with the Light, Becoming One with the Dust,” concealing the dense and extraordinary life force of his body.

“It should be a myna, right?” Er Bingzi said. Then he was also glared at, but it was by the crow.

Zhou Wubing was puzzled. “Why is she dressed like that in her own home? Oh, I understand. She’s going to see us in a while. Noble ladies are particular. They definitely won’t show their true faces at the first meeting.”

Then, he and Qin Ming were glared at by the woman together.

Qin Ming spoke in the smallest voice, “If you can talk, then talk more.”

He wanted to test if the woman could hear him when he spoke in such a mosquito-like voice.

Then, let alone the woman, even the crow reacted. This time, it actually laughed with a caw caw caw.

Qin Ming immediately shut his mouth and said nothing more. This woman seemed to be extremely extraordinary. The loose black fur cloak could not hide her beautiful figure. How could such a person possibly be worried about getting married?

The other young people were also discussing. It was already confirmed that the silver-haired old man was the old noble, and his daughter seemed to be very outstanding.

“I feel she’s very far from us. There’s no chance.” Someone in the hall sighed softly. Although he had some ideas when he came, he was clear-headed now.

Those who could come here were all New Lifers. Their perception was naturally far superior to that of ordinary people. They could discover that the noble lady had an extraordinary power on her, and even the crow she raised could understand human language, which was extraordinary.

Not long after, the old noble came over in person. His name was Xie Jingrui. His silver hair was crystalline, and his face was rosy. He was wearing a brocade robe.

Seeing the young people all stand up, somewhat cramped, he smiled gently. “You are all good children. I can see at a glance that you are kind-hearted, much more simple and unadorned than those youths I’ve seen who fly eagles and walk dogs.”

Xie Jingrui was all about being frank. He was open and honest from the start, saying that it was true he wanted to marry off his daughter, but he also wanted to ask for everyone’s help.

He knew that this group of young New Lifers were all going to enter the mountains and had long been chosen by the various great families of Crimson Cloud City to guide them.

“If you discover any rare products born in the nodes of the mountains, please do this old man a favor. Relax, don’t be nervous. I’m not asking you to fight for them, just to pass a message to me.”

The old noble, Xie Jingrui, said frankly that he could talk to the nobles of Crimson Cloud City. He just wanted to do business with those people and be the first to buy a special product he needed, worried that it would be traded away in advance.

This was because many organizations and forces had come this time, and they had all released the news in advance that they wanted to buy the rare products born in the nodes of the great mountains at a high price.

Then, he clapped his hands and had someone bring in some sharp blades, swords, and so on. They were all definitely very valuable. He let the young people each choose one, as a reward for their kindness in coming here.

“My daughter has made me worry my heart out. I really want to marry her off as soon as possible. I’m so worried. I really don’t look at family background when choosing a son-in-law.”

Xie Jingrui sighed and said frankly here that as long as someone and his daughter were pleasing to each other’s eyes, it would be fine. He wished he could arrange the wedding tomorrow, hoping that the Xie family could branch out and the family would prosper.

At the end, he was actually a little melancholic, not seeming to be faking it.

Was the noble lady of the Xie family really worried about getting married? Many people began to doubt.

“Young man, I’ve heard of you two. Both have golden foundations, quite good. Have you considered changing to another path?” Xie Jingrui was amiable and came to Qin Ming and Zhou Wubing, taking the initiative to speak to them.

Not long after, Er Bingzi was taken by the old butler to the backyard to see the noble lady, but he came back very soon.

“Is it that woman in black? How is she?” Qin Ming asked him in a low voice.

“Dressed in black, heroic and valiant, extremely beautiful. But, sigh, she’s not suitable for me. You can consider it.” After Er Bingzi finished speaking, he actually left in a hurry.

Qin Ming had not come for a blind date at all, but he had received a stiff bow specially given to him by the old noble. He was also specially designated to go to the backyard to meet the noble lady. Out of politeness, he couldn’t leave early.

He guessed that the mysterious woman in black had glared at him twice just now, and her favorability was not high. He estimated that it would be the same as with Er Bingzi; they would just meet, go through the motions, and it would be over.

A moment later, Qin Ming was led to the back of the residence.

In the backyard of the mansion, a woman in black was practicing her sword. The cold light was chilling. She was indeed heroic and valiant.

Instantly, Qin Ming was stunned.

It wasn’t that the woman was ugly. On the contrary, she was very beautiful. Unlike the gentleness of ordinary women, she had a rare heroic spirit, a very alternative kind of beauty.

But, her face was too big, not much smaller than a washbasin. Her tall figure was nearly five meters high, and the greatsword in her hand was over three meters long.

Er Bingzi didn’t seem to have lied either. He had told the truth, just not about her height and weight.

The woman’s name was Xie Lingxi. The greatsword in her hand was even longer than Cao Long’s height.

Qin Ming realized what the old noble meant when he said he had a way to help him change his path. Was he trying to get him to walk the giant spirit god path?

“Do you also think I’m like a monster?” Xie Lingxi asked.

Qin Ming immediately shook his head. “No, you are walking the path of becoming a god, a great path of immortality. And in the future, after your giant spirit god body is complete, you can still change back to your original appearance.”

“What becoming a god? If there really were gods, why not lift the sun out and let it rise again?” The woman sneered and then went back to practicing her sword.

Qin Ming turned around, about to leave.

“I saw you two years ago. We came from Flowing Light City, passed through Fallen Moon City, and then through Crimson Cloud City. We discovered you on the road. At that time, you were about to die,” the tall and slender Xie Lingxi, who was nearly five meters tall, suddenly spoke.

Instantly, Qin Ming’s body stiffened, and then he slowly turned around.

(End of Chapter)